Birichino - Besson Vineyard - Grenache Vieilles Vignes 2019
Birichino is located in Santa Cruz, California in the United States. The estate was founded in 2008 by Alex Krause and John Locke after 40 years of winemaking experience in California, France, Italy and beyond. They source from a number of carefully farmed, family-owned, own-rooted 19th and early 20th century vineyards planted by and large in more moderate, marine-influenced climates. Their preference is for minimal intervention, most often favouring native fermentations, employing stainless or neutral barrels, minimal racking and fining, and avoiding filtration altogether when possible. They work alongside 9 vineyards: Antle, Bechthold, Besson, Boer, Enz, Jurassic Park, Lilo, Oasis and Peter Martin Ray.
George Besson's late father, George Sr., purchased the Grenache vineyard and farmhouse just after the Second World War on a gently north-facing rocky slope. These non-irrigated vines, planted on their own roots in 1910, sit a short distance from the start of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The harvest is manual and the bunches are kept whole. Some of the grapes (10%) undergo the “apassimento” method where the bunches are left to dry in a ventilated room for ten days. Aging takes place in neutral barrels and cement vats for 12 months.
Grape variety: 100% Grenache